Greener Cleaning for Cultural Heritage

January 21–23, 2026 – Bologna

The International Workshop on Greener Cleaning for Cultural Heritage is organized by the GoGreen project, in close collaboration with GreenArt and MOXY. Together, these initiatives form the Green Cluster for Cultural Heritage, a collaborative platform committed to advancing sustainable and science-based approaches in conservation.

Building on the outcomes of the Vilnius 2024 Symposium, the workshop will showcase the most recent and innovative results achieved within the three projects. The program combines a round table during which the concept of green restoration will be discussed, seminar sessions, dedicated to presenting new materials, methodologies, and applications, and a practical section where participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with researchers, discuss specific challenges, and experience innovative cleaning methods first-hand.

📖 Seminar and round table sessions: Sharing Knowledge and Results

The first two days will be dedicated to the round table and to the  seminar sessions that present the results of three Horizon Europe projects – GoGreen, GreenArt, and MOXY

  • New materials and formulations: from bio-originated cleaning agents to innovative gels, electrospun tissues, and plasma-based non-contact cleaning techniques.
  • Methodologies: scientific approaches to testing, validating, and optimizing cleaning methods on sensitive works of art.
  • Applications: real-world case studies illustrating how these greener methods can be implemented in museum and conservation practice.

A strong emphasis will be placed on assessment methods:

  • Performance assessment, to evaluate the effectiveness of new cleaning technologies on cultural heritage objects.
  • Environmental impact assessment, to measure the ecological footprint of these methods and ensure they truly contribute to sustainability.

🧪 Practical Demonstrations: Hands-On Experience

The third day will be devoted to practical demonstrations at the conservation studio. These sessions will be restricted to 45 participants, ensuring a highly interactive environment where conservators, scientists, and students can directly engage with the researchers.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to:

  • Observe demonstrations of innovative cleaning techniques and materials.
  • Discuss specific conservation challenges with researchers and experts.
  • Exchange practical experiences and explore the applicability of greener approaches to their own work.

This limited-access format will foster a close dialogue, allowing participants to address concrete problems, test solutions, and gain direct insights into the ongoing development of sustainable conservation methods.